Reluctant Love

Chapter 9: Not that reluctant at all

The moon hung low in the sky, casting a soft glow over the Newtown Fire Academy campus as Sam and Penny walked together. The training tower stood behind them, a quiet witness to their shared moment just minutes ago. Sam's hand lingered at his side, itching to reach out and place it on her shoulder.

"I'll walk you back," Sam said, breaking the comfortable silence. His voice was steady, but inside he felt a swirl of emotions he wasn't entirely ready to process.

"You don't have to," Penny replied, though there was no protest in her tone. She glanced sideways at him, her cheeks still warm from their kiss.

Sam smiled faintly. "I want to."

They continued down the cobblestone path, the faint sounds of laughter and distant music drifting from the dormitories nearby. As they neared Penny's building, the porch light flickered, illuminating the shared dormitory she stayed in with Ellie.

"I guess this is me," Penny said, her voice softer now.

Sam nodded. "It is."

Penny hesitated, turning to face him. Her brown eyes met his, and for a moment, she forgot the world outside this quiet corner of the campus. "Sam, about earlier..."

He raised a hand gently, stopping her. And quickly kissed her lips, "You don't have to say anything. Not now."

She nodded, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Thank you."

As she reached for the door, Sam's voice stopped her.

"Pen."

She turned back to him, her heart skipping a beat.

"Goodnight," he said, his tone low and warm, a soft grin on his face.

"Goodnight, Sam," she replied and hugged him, lingering for just a second before stepping inside.

Inside the dorm, Ellie was sprawled on her bed with a textbook in hand. She looked up as Penny entered, with her short hair tied messily now.

"You're back late," Ellie teased. Then her eyes flickered to Penny's expression. "Wait a second. You're smiling like a Cheshire cat. What happened?"

Penny quickly shook her head, trying to suppress the grin she knew was plastered across her face. "Nothing. Just... had a lot to think about."

Ellie sat up, clearly intrigued. "Uh-huh. And does that 'lot to think about' have anything to do with a certain someone whose initials might be S.J.?"

Penny froze for a second before brushing past Ellie's question. "You're impossible, Ellie. As if there was also anything to do with someone named Elvis Cridlington."

"What? That's not a no. Morris," Ellie called out, smirking as Penny rolled her eyes and retreated to her bed.

Meanwhile, at the dorm that Sam shared with Elvis and Arnold, the atmosphere was far less subdued.

Arnold was at his desk, meticulously working through a stack of assignments. His glasses had slid down his nose as he furiously scribbled notes, trying to beat a self-imposed deadline.

Elvis, on the other hand, was busy playing his guitar and letting out a loud riff which annoyed Arnold a lot.

"Elvis, can you tone it down? Some of us are trying to study," Arnold muttered, looking down.

Elvis ignored him, sitting up and turning to Sam as he entered the room. "Hey, Sam! You're back late. Did you meet someone? Oh, wait—don't tell me you had a secret meet-up with Penny!"

"Penny Morris?" Arnold was looking for the first time, and it piqued his interest.

"Would you focus on your work?" Sam retorted, trying to divert the attention.

Elvis smirked, clearly unconvinced. "Come on, Sam. You've got that look. The one that says you've been somewhere special."

Sam shook his head, heading for his bed. Shrugging it off, "You're imagining things, Elvis."

Elvis leaned closer to Arnold, stage-whispering, "He's avoiding it."

Arnold looked at Elvis, returning to his notes. "I don't have time for this, Elvis. Just go to bed, as if you're not head over heels with Ellie Phillips."

Elvis rolled his eyes and went to bed, turning his phone on, and just putting on his AirPods. 

Sam lay back on his bed, a faint smile playing on his lips. He could still feel the spark of Penny's kiss and hear her voice echoing in his mind.

For now, he was content to keep this moment to himself. But he knew it wouldn't stay a secret forever—not with Elvis or Arnold around.